FRS radio range ?

[Hook948]

Just wondering<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=""> IF a person were to cut a 102" whip down to 6 1/2 ft+/- for a 3 wave length mobile antenna and a radio output of around 40-50 watts.......what kind of range over fairly flat terrain could that person expect to get? I would NEVER do this, Just wondering <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=""> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT="">

Hot Rod Lincoln -Dancing around the World ! ...... CDX948 Central Texas, - Hook948@hotmail.com</p>

 

[W5LZ]

Hook,

You probably wouldn't see very much difference. On UHF,

range is determined by 'line of sight', and power doesn't

really make that much difference. Using a multi-wave length

antenna isn't going to make as much difference as raising

the existing antenna a couple of dozen feet will. Propagation

is really 'freaky' on UHF. It doesn't play as important a part

as it does on HF, or even VHF, and is something that you

can't count on at all. Whole different ball game...

- 'Doc




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[Hook948]

Thanks Doc. I was hoping for the best of 2 worlds...ht for walk around and plug into mobile for 30-40 mile range<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=""> For that I would probably have to go with a tall tower and a repeater and it would be easier and safer <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=""> to just go with a regular 2-way.

Hot Rod Lincoln -Dancing around the World ! ...... CDX948 Central Texas, - Hook948@hotmail.com</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub86.ezboard.com/bworldwidecbradioclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=hook948@worldwidecbradioclub>Hook948</A> at: 1/8/03 12:28:34 pm

 

[ButtFuzz]

What you could do is "pay yer money to the man" and get a GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) License. The license is currently $70 for five years and they assign you a call sign. This gives you and any member of your 'immediate family'.** the privelege of transmitting on UHF on the GMRS channels, 7 of which are shared with the FRS radio service.



Frequencies are shared, no one "owns" one channel as in the business frequencies. 50 watt maximum transmitter power allowed and there are 2 watt GMRS portables available all over ebay for under $60. Nice ones, too. Some have built in digital compasses, etc.



I get GREAT range out of this scenario with 2 watts. and can talk for several miles on the portables.



If nothing is blocking your path with the FRSs, you can talk quite a distance, too, with the .5 watts they have. A buddy of mine talked "plain as day" whilst deer hunting the other day about 3 miles apart on mountain peaks. Your range may vary.



** Your immediate family, as defined by the FCC is "huge". It indludes Moms, pops, grandparents, children, brothers, sisters, in-laws, etc.



Regarding that antenna, I'd make a 5/8 wave at UHF frequencies, which would give great range and still only be around 2 feet long. Cool.



Fuzz


_____

Buttfuzz in the Mobile</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub86.ezboard.com/bworldwidecbradioclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=buttfuzz@worldwidecbradioclub>ButtFuzz</A> 

at: 1/8/03 1:08:35 pm

 

[fasteddy]

There is also the MURS frequencies. Mobile Universal Radio Service. These are 5 frequencies in the VHF band, and unlike FRS there is no restiction on radio antenna configuration and there is no license fee. There was a thread in another section of the forum that went in to more detail.

73's

fasteddy<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT="">

</p>

 

[Hook948]

Yep and Rat shack has the #19-1210 mobile on sale for $45 <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=""> I think I'll just stick with what I got and put some fire in the wire in the wifes truck<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT="">

Hot Rod Lincoln -Dancing around the World ! ...... CDX948 Central Texas, - Hook948@hotmail.com</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub86.ezboard.com/bworldwidecbradioclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=hook948@worldwidecbradioclub>Hook948</A> at: 1/8/03 8:29:51 pm

 

[jdchet]

More knitting supplies Mike?<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek">

<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">

JD<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat">


<span style="color:yellow;font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;">CDX 951</span>

<span style="color:yellow;font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;">DOC'S RADIOS ROCK!</span>

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